Our West End Plan to –2026 Recover &Thrive 2021 Better together, for good This proposal has drawn on the experience and guidance of over 100 West End businesses on our Steering & Management Groups which comprises:
Lord Bruce Dundas Gareth Eighteen Buccellati Schuh Chair of Bond Street & Mayfair Chair of Oxford Street
Ian Grout Paul Jackson Hackett Claridge’s Chair of Regent Street Chair of Hotel Management
These include 80 businesses representing retail, restaurants, hotels and property owners.
2 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Contents
One Vision & Mission Why Who Chairman & Chief Executive Governance > Manifesto Commitments to our > The Company Members > The Board, Steering & Management > The Board Groups > The Executive Team Our Record of Results > District Map COVID 19 Response How What Finances > BID Levy Rules Purpose Through Partnership > BID Budget
Our 2025 Strategy Operating Agreement Our 2025 Targets
Your Priorities
Our Delivery Plan 2021 – 2026 Vote > Customer Experience Using your Vote > Campaigning > Insights & Innovation Acknowledgements
Benefits of Renewing the BID
3 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. For two decades, we have put our 600 members at the forefront of everything we do.
We were set up by businesses in the West End to achieve what could not be accomplished by one business or one organisation alone.
Our shared vision is to make the West End’s International Centre the most diverse, sustainable and inspiring place to visit and do business. Our mission is to create value for all our members, supporting sustainable growth.
At the start of a new decade, on our recovery journey from COVID 19, we set out our Business Proposal to secure your ongoing commitment for our renewal mandate, so that we can continue to work together to deliver five further years of district transformation and progress.
BETTER TOGETHER, FOR GOOD.
4 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Our vision: A future thinking district WHY OUR VISION - A FUTURE THINKING DISTRICT Reinvent
Our Chairman Sir Peter Rogers talks how to make the West End stronger.
I am conscious as I write this of the intense ongoing This is an opportunity to create a West End for the pressure on you and your businesses as a result of the future. Upgrading the physical image of the West End unprecedented restrictions on individuals both from can now be done efficiently. We need plans and pace of this country and internationally as a result of the implementation, but we also need to ensure that the area pandemic. There is not a single West End business that is clean and safe for all that come while it is happening. has been able to trade normally and plan with any Positive experience and personal recommendation will do certainty for the future. far more to fill the area than clever straplines.
Whilst we are grateful for the help the Government has The Board of the New West End Company and their provided, London’s West End needs more to enable it to organisations are suffering as you are. However, they survive and grow again into the economic powerhouse have also given more and more of their time to support that has led a national recovery through every other actions to secure the future of the entire district. economic crisis. It is now time for the Government to pay Redirection of activity, adapting operations, dealing with us back with targeted support and if it does any support financial realities and seeing valued colleagues leave so will be returned with interest over the years. The West that others may have jobs has become almost a way of End is no longer a cash cow which will survive whatever life. They have ensured that the New West End Company burdens are placed on it. does the same – slimmer, sharper and more relevant to the needs of you, our members. The immediate challenge is now to get Government to recognise this. Decisions to help businesses survive, like I am confident that there are better times ahead and we the extension of business rate relief, removal of some of must start work now to ensure they arrive as quickly as the archaic regulations restricting trading or measures to possible. We will continue to challenge Government to encourage the world back to this unique place are top of give us the tools to do so whether that is tax free shopping, our lists for action. The New West End Company has been a reformed system for business rates or extending Sunday making these points to Government at the very highest Trading hours. We will continue to push the Mayor on level. We have the support of our MPs, the Mayor and the things that matter like the opening of the Elizabeth Line City Council who are joining us to make the case. and iconic improvements around Marble Arch and Oxford Circus. And we will not forget what you have told us. The short run actions of the Council have helped. Clean, safe streets creating an experience to repeat and Outdoor space is being reinvented to create a better to share with others require daily attention and we will experience as well as helping businesses survive. provide it. We need to build on that through the £150m Oxford Street District plans or through further redesignation of You have a promise from me, the Board and all the staff space for the people who will flock to the West End in the of the New West End Company that we will continue to future. We must have the Elizabeth Line open soon. listen to what you want, do it and strive to do even more. No more excuses, no more delays and we have a Transport Commissioner promising that. More importantly, none of the cost overrun can fall on hard pressed businesses who have already paid their share.
Sir Peter Rogers Chairman, New West End Company
6 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR VISION - A FUTURE THINKING DISTRICT Reboot
Our Chief Executive Jace Tyrrell on why change is good.
My introduction to our next five-year business plan was 1. Reverse the decision to abolish Tax Free Shopping not meant to read like this. 2. Continue with the Business Rates holiday until Up until the beginning of 2020, things were looking up. fundamental reform We had achieved most of our five-year targets up 3. Get started on the £150 million Oxford Street to 2020, the economy was growing; the West End was District Scheme in much better shape with major capital commitments on infrastructure and enhancements in touching distance. 4. Push the Mayor and TfL to Open Crossrail as We could credibly say we were in the premier league soon as possible of destinations in the world to visit and do business. Our plan was to not stop there but continue to make 5. Present and activate temporary uses & empty voids things better. across the West End to encourage customers back
But in Spring 2020 everything changed. So, our plan is not yesterday’s document but today’s. It is a plan based on what we learnt over the last twenty years, The pandemic changed everything. Our priorities, our but it is also building on the collaboration we have truly five-year plan disappeared overnight. With our members, valued and strengthened in 2020 with a collective focus partners and Westminster City Council, and residents, we on making things happen. refocused on the things that mattered most – everyone’s health and safety. And what a team effort. I cannot thank The West End is facing long-term structural challenges you all enough for doing whatever was needed to keep now accelerated as a result of COVID. Much has changed our customers, colleague and community safe. as a result of the pandemic. How we work is changing; what we shop for, and who we shop with and when; how And, if we thought it was difficult to shut things down, we spend our time in dining and leisure is on a new path; the process of opening again and living with COVID was the world and people’s purpose is moving faster than ever always going to be one hundred times more difficult and before, and we must keep ahead. so it proved. Our business plan, summarised in our manifesto to you, Once again, as a consequence of the strong relationships our members, seeks to focus on the areas where we we have between the many different and diverse partners know we can make a difference and at the same time within our district, we have risen to the challenge and support all our partners in delivering our shared whilst we are nowhere near where we all want to be sustainable goals. I and the full team at New West End today, we are confident that through delivery of this plan, Company, look forward to working together with you to with our COVID response priorities and with you and our enable it to get done. partners, we will get back to 2019 economic levels within five years.
Over the next 12 months our top priority is to return customers to the West End and push the Government & London authorities on a series of support measures; Jace Tyrrell Chief Executive, New West End Company
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Manifesto commitments to our members
Working with our members and partners, our aim is to return the West End’s International Centre to 2019 levels of sustainable economic performance.
Our customers will benefit from excellence and We will continue to deliver key convenience when they visit, with streets that programmes already underway: are clean, safe and healthy with seamless digital and physical interactions. > Campaign for change: advocate for further changes in regulations around our global competitiveness; tax We will lead campaigns and initiatives that support free shopping, business rates, tourist visas and Sunday economic, environmental and social progress. Trading reform. We will deliver cutting edge data and insights around > Best place to Visit: invest in street cleaning, security social, environmental and economic impact for our services and digital infrastructure for our customers; members that allow them to make better informed, and more responsive, businesses. > Transform Oxford Street District: support Westminster City Council’s plan to deliver the £150 £10bn District turnover enabled by: million regeneration of the Oxford Street district and wider West End; > Bringing the world together: Investment in new festive > Open Up the West End: ensure that the district is ready lighting; creating a year-round programme of campaigns to welcome the million more visitors when the Elizabeth & events in a safe and welcoming environment Line opens and advocate for its earliest opening; highlighting our diversity, sustainability and richness; > Fit for purpose trading environment: build on our > Data driven insights: build a world-renowned data International Centre status to continue to campaign for and insights platform that gives members access to changes in planning, licensing and development policy an expanded suite of information across economic for post COVID retail/leisure requirements; performance and environmental best practice;
> Zero emissions by 2025: deliver the first Zero Emissions Transport Zone in London by 2025, in partnership with members, partners, Transport for London and the City of Westminster.
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New West End Company do a remarkable job of uniting over 600 businesses in the area and have twenty years of delivery and results to their name. However, to ensure we recover fully from COVID, future-proof our district sustainably and continue to promote a renewed West End to customers and investors worldwide, we must continue to support them.
The Board – New West End Company
Sir Peter Rogers | Chairman James Raynor | Chief Executive New West End Company Grosvenor Britain & Ireland
James Cooksey | Chair Property Group NWEC David Silverman | Director Director Central London, The Crown Estate Derwent London PLC
Paul Jackson | Chair Hotel Group NWEC Toby Courtald | Chief Executive General Manager, Claridge’s Great Portland Estates PLC
Meave Wall | Executive Director of Stores Sacha Berendji | Chair Oxford St Group NWEC Selfidges & Co Director of Retail Marks and Spencer PLC
Katherine Russell | Head of Real Estate Manuel Criado-Romero | Chair Finance & John Lewis & Partners Governance Group NWEC Managing Director Pontegadea UK
Jayesh Patel | Portfolio Manager UK Norges Bank Investment Management Barratt West | Chair Occupier Group NWEC Vice President & Managing Director UK & Ireland, Tiffany & Co. Hugh Milward | Chair Public Affairs Group NWEC Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft
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Our record of results
From day one our vision and focus has been driven by businesses working together across our 600 retail, hotel, leisure and property-owner members. Significant results have been achieved, with more work still to do.
Our Top Ten: 2018 - 2021
> Secured ‘International > £ 10m additional non- Centre’ policy status for BID levy raised and re- our district in the West End invested into our area
> 50% fewer buses on Oxford > £ 20m in local business rates Street & Regent Street relief fund returned in 2018 to West End businesses 150m Oxford Street > £ through our advocacy District improvement and facilitated through plan confirmed in 2019 Westminster City Council following a complex advocacy campaign > Implemented a pilot and close co-operation West End freight and with the Council waste consolidation service which reduced 10m Bond Street > £ number of waste vehicles Scheme completed in East Mayfair by 17.5% > £ 2m extra funding > £ 60m District reputation raised for the 12m £ media coverage reaching transformation of 250m people locally & Hanover Square globally > £ 18m East Mayfair public realm enhancement programme secured with partners
10 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. With two flagship stores in the West End, we can already see the benefits of reduced traffic and better air quality as a result of the work done by New West End Company and its partners. It has made a huge difference to the area but there is still more work to be done.
Sacha Berendji – Director of Retail M&S Chair Oxford Street Steering Group
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Covid-19 response
Our immediate priority is to continue to rebuild West End customer demand and support working capital for businesses. We will campaign for policies that build up our future resilience and lead to the revival of the West End’s International Centre.
We are all responding to an exceptional We will respond by working with our members health and economic emergency. and partners to ensure the West End has the best possible opportunities to thrive in a post-COVID and The pandemic has led, and will continue to lead, to new post-Brexit economy. models for many business sectors; not least retail, leisure It has been a challenge to finalise our five-year strategy and commercial real estate. in the middle of a global pandemic. Our plan is agile There is a pronounced shift to online and customers with both immediate and longer-term targets. We will be wanting to spend their money and time in a more responsive to the trading and political conditions we will sustainable way. Public policy around social and all have to navigate, together. environmental purpose will be a permanent fixture and will require evolved business models.
The West End has an unparalleled reputation internationally and as we recover from COVID, we will need New West End Company more than ever to champion our destination with key city and national promotional agencies, to encourage our clients to return and stay with us in the West End.
Paul Jackson – General Manager, Chair of Hotel Steering Group, Claridge’s
12 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. The plan: A clear direction in an ever changing world WHAT THE PLAN - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
Purpose through partnership
We share a collective vision with members and partners and will work together to help the West End to thrive.
Our business proposal sets out our commitment to five more years of district transformation and progress, delivered through our operating partnerships with our members, customers & partners at the core of this.
New West End Company
Members BETTER TOGETHER, Customers FOR GOOD.
Partners & Government
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London’s West End is a shopping magnet attracting visitors from all over the world, driving jobs and growth and boosting London’s economy. Bringing together the energy and experience of businesses in this flagship retail hub and drawing up a clear strategy for its future through New West End Company is essential to its continued success.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister
The West End plays a crucial role in the UK economy. It is a global centre for retail, culture and hospitality and plays a huge role in drawing millions of visitors into this global hub. I will continue to work with the New West End Company as we recover from the pandemic and rebuild our economy.
Nickie Aiken MP for cities of London & Westminster
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I’d like to thank everyone involved in the New West End Company for the amazing work you’ve been doing, particularly during this awful Covid crisis. I’ll continue to be an ambassador, advocate and champion for the New West End Company, because I recognise the massive contribution you make to making London the greatest city in the world.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
The partnership with New West End Company is a really important part of how we are going to deliver our shared ambition for the West End, so that we can make it greener, more sustainable, with better air quality and smart technology, to improve the whole offering of the area. Our partnership with New West End Company will be at the centre of that.
Cllr Rachael Robathan, Leader Westminster City Council
Oxford Street and the West End are so important; not just for London but the whole UK economy. As a partner, NWEC has supported and pushed hard for the opening of the Elizabeth Line, which will mark the beginning of a new era for the West End. Working with New West End Company, and its partners, we will transform the West End into an unrivaled place to live, work and visit.
Andy Byford, Commissioner Transport for London
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Our 2025 strategy
As we set aside our existing plans to support the recovery of our district in 2020, we revisited and refreshed our future business proposals to take account of the challenges that a post-COVID and Post-Brexit West End will face. Our five-year strategy prioritises recovery, resilience and renaissance.
Working with our members and partners, we will strive Campaigning: to return our district to £10bn annual turnover by 2025 An influential business voice, with results but within the new environment created by COVID and in a more sustainable way which responds to global We will lead campaigns and initiatives that support consumer trends. economic, environmental and social progress leveraging our International Centre status. Customer experience: Improved environment and services, Insights & innovation: enhancing business performance Providing tools to gain a competitive edge
Our customers will benefit from excellence and We will deliver cutting edge data and insights around convenience with every visit, with streets that are clean, social, environmental and economic impact for our safe and healthy with seamless digital and physical members that allow them to make better informed, interactions and services. and more responsive, business.
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Our 2025 targets
Our top goal: Working with our members and partners, we will strive to return our District to £10bn annual turnover by 2025 enabled by:
> Elizabeth Line open and operating Our shared outcome 1: Increase Customer Satisfaction by 2025 > £150m Oxford Street District (Target Set November 2021) Transformation Complete Our shared outcome 2: > Flexible approach to planning, Zero Emission Traffic Zone by 2025 licensing & development in our (Targets Set November 2021) ‘International Centre’ Our shared outcome 3: Digitally Enabled ‘Smart’ District by 2025 (Target Set November 2021)
Our business proposal will be delivered with and through our operating partnerships with our members, customers & partners with progress reported annually.
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Three Pillar New West End Members Customers Partners & Delivery Plan Company Government
Customer Experience
Clean, safe & healthy Cleaning, Security, Use NWEC services and Use NWEC services Invest in greater policing, Enforcement, Resilience & adopt Code Invest in higher Provide feedback via surveys enforcement / maintenance streets Outreach services, Member impact services (x2pa) Healthy Street Code of Conduct Participate wellbeing Use health & Wellbeing services recommendations funded programme from members to stay longer & adopted Encourage Walk & Cycle Residents engage & advocate for staff
Physical & Digital Platforms & Services for Participate in campaigns, Join Loyalty Scheme Greater flexibility to members & customers, services & innovate the Visit & Stay longer innovate & activate in Christmas Lights, Celebratory customer ‘offer’ ‘International Centre’ ‘moments’
Campaigning
Oxford St & Regent St Campaign for core Invest £80m scheme through Increase visitors London & UK Deliver £230m full district completion by 2025 with planning gain & co-funding wide scheme by 2025 District Transformation Regent St improvements
Elizabeth Line readiness Campaign full opening & Prepare opening, invest Increase visitors from Greater Open full scheme by 2023 district improvements outside & resilience London Invest Accessible transport stations 2022 & Space
Economic ‘International Centre’ Support Advocacy Campaigns Increase visitors & spend from Adopt policies for Covid Advocacy Campaigns - EU Tax London, UK and Globally recovery & sustainable Free, Sunday Trading, Rates, district growth Police Resources
Inward Investment Promotional & District Partner NWEC Campaigns Advocate West End Promote District: GREAT, Visit Campaigns Invest in West End business/ as ‘innovative’ and Britain, London & Partners Income generation building ‘tranformative’ global district
Social & Environmental Advocate Sustainable Commit to Renewable Energy Participate; food waste, recycle Zero Emission Traffic Zone Programmes Use consolidation Scheme & re-use, reduce plastic, by 2025 Convene members & partners Join Food Waste Scheme car-free days & carbon offset Policies & investment to reach NWEC Responsible Reduce plastic to customers campaigns net zero carbon city by 2040 Procurement
Insights & Innovations
Sustainable District Base Data Sets (2021/22) Set out Zero Carbon, Waste & Recognition through annual Cite NWEC audit & members’ Audit & Best Practice annually Air, Resilience - Progressive survey of members progress & best practice in addressing Showcase & Reporting with Progressive Targets Targets pa commitments climate change
Data Driven Performance PwC Insights & Measurements Sign Up & Use Participate Customer Surveys Economic prosperity improved to support members, Evolve programme & (x2pa) through Govt action and investment and policy feedback value relevant trade bodies using our campaigning insights
Our business proposal will be delivered with and through our operating partnerships with our members, customers & partners with progress reported annually.
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Your priorities
Since summer 2019, New West End Company has met and spoken to over 300 retail, hotel, restaurant and property owner businesses across our district to develop and set the priorities for our renewal business proposal for 2021 – 2026; since summer 2020 we have evolved our plans based on the West End responding to a post-COVID and post-Brexit trading environment.
A significant proportion of West End businesses are As well as responding to the recovery and repurposed long-term holders of assets and businesses and they want needs of the West End, the BID will also focus on several a strategic approach that is aligned for sustainable success long-term strategic goals along with responding to tactical with social and commercial returns benefiting both day-to-day requirements of members. owners and occupiers in the area.
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What you told us you wanted
Sustainable District
> Strive to create a truly sustainable district of > Deliver celebratory moments, building on our international recognition with members and partners international offering and diverse mix of people and across economic, social and environment programmes; cultures, enhancing the district’s brand proposition supporting the City Council in its aim of achieving a and raising commercial income to re-invest back net Carbon Neutral City by 2040. into the district
> A repurposed and diverse West End offer of business, services and experience that continues to attract Campaigning customers, employees and investors; locally and globally. > Continue to campaign on issues leveraging our > Position the West End as the most innovative and ‘International Centre’ status; building our resilience greatest fashion, leisure and cultural offer worldwide. and future growth through planning, taxation and international competitiveness regulation
Customer Experience – > Secure greater public sector and partnership investment Management & Marketing into managing and maintaining the West End’s streets and public spaces > Hold the authorities more to account and focus our resources on enhanced security, enforcement and > Focus on a few major campaigns that will benefit cleaning with a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social members bottom line in the most impactful way behaviour and plan ahead for peak periods such as > Work with London and national bodies to ensure the summer and Christmas to lift the quality West End benefits from sector and city centre policies and presentation of our district > Promote the work of both occupier and owner members > Integrate a West End wide management programme on sustainability; to protect and enhance our district’s working collaboratively with neighbouring BIDs and reputation amongst customers, employees, stakeholders, major property owners policy makers and advocacy groups > Gain greater power for BIDs to manage and curate public spaces, including traffic-free zones and activations Insights & Innovations within newly created public realm areas; particularly with the Oxford Street District proposals > Enhance the measurement metrics for marketing and management programmes delivered > Develop robust business continuity and resilience across the district building on the experience of COVID, > Continue to undertake regular qualitative customers counter terrorism and knife crime in London; focus on survey assessing impact of programmes and street both preparation and response management issues; also drawing out customer innovations to support destination loyalty and > Evolve shopper services to be more digital led and dwell time improve the linkage with customer service and hotels > Broaden New West End Economics to build a robust set > Clearly identify target markets, customers and of data points and forward forecasting across hotels, opportunities to growth in a post COVID economy airlines, occupier demand, investment and competitors; > Unite the three streets and the wider West End into keep ahead of the market on new data sets and district wide campaign while also promoting the innovations in the programme individual offer of the streets and neighbourhoods
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It’s been a privilege to be part of a great organisation that’s represented London businesses over many years and will continue to do so into the future. We’ve worked on some really significant projects including the Bond Street transformation and we’re now working on the Oxford Street transformation as well. We have strong focusses in 2021 as we try to help businesses recover and help make London a great place once again.
Barratt West – UK Vice President & Managing Director, Tiffany & Co Chair Occupier Steering Group
The property industry of London’s West End has long been a supporter of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). As we have greater competition locally and around the world for people’s time and investment, we must continue to work collectively post COVID to restore the value of our assets and drive the future commercial success of London’s retail and leisure heartland.
Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive, Great Portland Estates plc
The West End’s popularity will return, but we must work together to maintain its position as the most relevant and best destination in the world. We support New West End Company’s renewal of their BID mandate and continued aim to promote the areas attractions, improve the street environment and champion the interests of businesses to all levels of Government.
James Raynor, Chief Executive, Grosvenor Great Britain & Ireland
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Customer experience
Our aim: We will continue to transform our district by prioritising placemaking to enrich the space for our local communities, attract customers and boost dwell time and investment through additional street management services, enhanced experiences and public realm innovations.
Our activity: Presentation and management of our district from New West End Company services; street cleaning, security, outreach and resilience, with enhanced marketing through new festive lighting, celebratory moments, loyalty programmes, services and promotions.
New West End Company Measures of Success:
> Consumer Surveys – Satisfaction Radar Scores with > Response by Public Agencies to improve overall Annual Increases customer satisfaction
> Member Survey – Satisfaction with New West End > Increase share of West End voice in London, Company Services above 70% national and international campaigns
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As our District recovers from COVID, we are going to ensure that we continue to improve the presentation and experience of all our streets and strive for excellent customer service with digital integration and sustainable infrastructure investments that are unsurpassed around the globe. This will build on our partnership approach with members and the authorities; taking our operating model to new heights.
Dee Corsi, Chief Operating Officer New West End Company
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Clean, Safe & Healthy Streets
An impactful district place management plan requires investment, ongoing management and effective partnerships to problem solve with our members, police and authorities. The safety and cleanliness of the West End should reflect its status as an International Centre for retail and leisure, and our street management services with a member code of conduct will absolutely strive to that aim.
James Lawley Barrett, Associate Director of Place Management
We will:
> Provide a safer and more secure district with dedicated > Deliver deep cleaning programmes every night across security Officers, night-time dog patrols and security the district, and provide a full deep clean of Bond Street, zones with joint tasking enabling a better response from Oxford Street and Regent Street once every quarter, the Police and authorities with standardised security per annum criteria for members to help reduce crime through > Work with members and partners to reduce waste and information sharing increase recycling rates across our district > Seek to provide dedicated West End Outreach to support > Launch a Member Code of Conduct in the first year Westminster City Council’s outreach programme for of the new term to encourage all members to take vulnerable members of our street community ownership of the cleansing of public areas across > Expand our Street Cleaning Services to include our district members’ own external property ensuring higher standards of cleanliness across our district, responding within 30 minutes to every request
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Enhanced Digital & Physical Customer Experience
The future of retail and leisure is all about experience, and we will enhance the West End’s global reputation as a leading destination for customer experiences and create exceptional and continually improving customer journeys both online and in our district. A place to celebrate and be delighted on every visit.
Luciana Magliocco & Katie Thomas Associate Directors of Marketing
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The Digital Experience
We will:
> Create digital optimisation to direct more customers > Continue our China Welcome programme ensuring to the West End’s destination channels for Oxford St, visitors from China can easily navigate our destination Bond St, and with the Crown Estate, Regent St, through the WeChat mini programme and use their including investing in social media marketing to preferred payment methods. We will support an promote customer innovations and experiences, increase in the number of Chinese speaking staff in build the visitor community with ‘West End Advocates’ member businesses. and convert leads into footfall and spend > Expand our West End Club to offer value-added > Deliver geo-fencing apps to guide visitors around our experiences and exclusive offers to 150,000 district, offering a virtual concierge service so customers people who work in the West End can book experiences and services, and access inventory data so shoppers, hotel guests and diners can check the availability of products and services before they arrive
The Physical Experience
We will:
> Invest into Westminster City Council’s Oxford Street > Support the development of Visitor Lounges for District Transformation scheme; advocating for each district to enhance our customers’ experience. high quality design, a strategy linked to economic These lounges will offer tourists services, mobility development, enhanced management and major support, bag drop, phone-charging stations and completion by the full opening of the Elizabeth Line local information
> Collaborate with artists, designers and commercial > Work with members to create a suite of “West End partners to create unique, innovative and interactive standard” services, including aligned trading hours, experiences beyond the realm of pure retail hands-free shopping, mobile payments systems, dedicated Click and Collect zones and customer signage
Celebrations & Experiences
We will:
> Enhance the experience of celebrations from different > Investing into enhancing the West End Christmas cultures, religions and other groups throughout the experience with new lighting displays across year, including Pride, Tokyo Olympics 2021, Paris Oxford Street and Bond Street launching in Olympics 2024 and various festivals from Diwali to Eid 2021 and 2022 respectively
27 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. This is an unprecedented time for London. It is a difficult time for retailers but there is no equivalent to the West End in terms of the different stores and experiences. We have the best stores in the world here in Mayfair and we are here to ensure that the public can enjoy them safely.
Lord Bruce Dundas, Managing Director, Buccellati & Chair, Bond Street & Mayfair Management Group
The improvements I’ve seen in the West End and on Regent Street in particular have been phenomenal. The environment has changed dramatically, from cleaning to security and New West End Company have ensured that our customers can shop safely in an environment that is pleasant for everybody.
Ian Grout, Manager at Hackett London & Chair of Regent Street Management Group
2020 has been a crazy year, particularly difficult for our retailers and hospitality members. We are resilient, we are here for you and we look forward to welcoming our colleagues back.
Gareth Eighteen, General Manager, Schuh & Chair, Oxford Street Management Group
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Campaigning
Our aim: We will strive for the West End’s International Centre to remain globally competitive, economically prosperous, environmentally progressive and a socially responsible district through our campaigning and advocacy.
Our activity: Campaigns to reduce business costs, enhance members revenue and conduct business sustainably; > Economic: Planning, Licensing & Development, Sunday Trading, Tax Free shopping, Infrastructure, Rates > Environmental: Cleaner Air, Path to Zero Carbon, Less Waste – ‘West End Green Warriors’ > Social: Healthy & greener streets, workforce diversity and mental wellbeing
New West End Company Measures of Success:
> Flexible planning, licensing and development policies in > Campaign results leading to either reduced business the West End’s ‘International Centre’ costs or enhanced revenue streams
> A West End wide freight & vehicle reduction scheme > Local communities and policy makers supportive operating with partners delivering tangible results of our aims
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We will get results and continue to champion the West End’s international retail and leisure sector to all levels of local and national government, securing funding and pushing for policies that support the interest of our members to ensure that the West End remains a globally competitive, economically prosperous and socially responsible district.
Paul Barnes, Head of Advocacy
When the Government decided to cancel tax-free shopping, New West End Company were quick to recognise the impact of bringing together the key players in UK retail to speak with one collective voice and Selfridges has been proud to be involved in this effort. While the challenge remains, Selfridges will continue to work closely with New West End Company on the future prosperity of the West End.
Anne Pitcher, Group Managing Director, Selfridges
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Campaigning for Economic Sustainability
Our campaigns are chosen to create the best returns for West End businesses based on the probability of success and the positive impact they will have on increasing customer demand and reducing business costs.
Our campaigning work will include:
> Extending Sunday trading hours in the International > Increasing Middle East visitors to the West End: Centres of West End and Knightsbridge: We are a founding member of the Association of We will seek exemption from Sunday trading International Retail (AIR) which aims to increase Middle regulations in the International Centre, to bring us Eastern visitor numbers by working with Government in line with our global competitors. This will add to simplify the visa application process. We will an estimated additional £260 million in customer continue to work with national Government, industry spend annually. bodies and marketing agencies to explore practical initiatives to attract this valuable market to the UK. > Reforming Business Taxation: We will continue to call for a review of all business > Inward Investment & District Reputation: taxes to create a modern system that helps our members Through our inward investment and our district thrive in post COVID & Brexit Britain. reputation programme (building & protecting), we will provide a district-wide proposition that > Tax-free shopping: promotes the West End’s global competitiveness, We are urging the Government to reverse or at least the sustainability achievements of our members and postpone tax-free legislation changes in the UK. provides a compelling narrative as the first choice for > Repurposing West End Uses: visitors and investment. We are working with the Westminster Property > Income Generation & Partnerships: Association (WPA) to promote greater flexibility We will have a dedicated resource to build our corporate in planning use classes between retail, leisure and & commercial partnership income to support both the hospitality to enable the West End’ International Centre core member services of New West End Company and to respond to new consumer and retail trends and to build up strategic district-wide projects. Building our secure future resilience. commercial office voluntary membership base will also be a priority to potentially extend the BID footprint to the office sector sometime in the future.
31 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. THE PLAN - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
Campaigning for Environmental Sustainability
New West End Company will play a key leadership role in our sustainable district programmes, convening and campaigning through public-private sector partnerships to implement activities that have the greatest contribution to our overall district and member goals towards a Zero Carbon world.
Campaigning for a better West End environment: We will lead campaigns on behalf of members that aim to reduce the environmental impacts of our businesses and consumers with our overall goal of becoming one of the world’s most environmentally sustainable International Centres. We will focus on activities in three key areas through the One Planet framework; path to zero carbon, improved air quality and waste reduction.
32 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. THE PLAN - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
Path to Zero Carbon
In 2019 the City of Westminster declared a state of ‘climate emergency’ with a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2040. The Mayor of London, neighbouring Councils and other governing bodies have set ambitious targets to address climate change issues.
Our members need to take action to address emissions associated with buildings, improve resource efficiency and working standards for employees. New West End Company will be a key promoter of sustainable programmes at a district level promoting transparency in members environmental action.
Working with our members and partners, we will:
> Deliver business & customer campaigns that support > Work with Westminster City Council and its Carbon our vision for a truly ‘Sustainable District’ setting Offset Fund to identify investment opportunities and ambitions and best practice that address issues on facilitate collaborations to improve the West End’s a global platform International Centre’s energy infrastructure.
> Work with businesses to raise energy-efficiency > Support Grosvenor’s ambitious proposal for Grosvenor awareness, encourage carbon reductions and action Square as a global landmark of best practice to green a on climate resilience and risk management key public space: https://www.grosvenorsquare.org/
Waste Reduction
To make significant progress in waste reduction across retail, leisure and hospitality a partnership approach will be adopted promoting schemes to our member businesses, their employees and our customers.
We will:
> Encourage recycling to reduce waste across our district customer behaviour changes through our West End Club loyalty programme > Support reusable fashion campaigns to our colleagues and customers at key trading periods such as Summer > Build on initiatives such as The Crown Estate’s food Sales & Christmas periods waste scheme across our restaurants and hotels members and promoting servicing app platforms such > Encourage reduction in plastic usage across our retail, as ‘too good to go’ leisure and hospitality members and look to incentivise
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Improved Air Quality Through Zero Emission Transport Streets
The West End’s International Centre lies within the Mayor’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which is designed to improve air quality by cutting exhaust emissions. Westminster City Council is aiming to reduce traffic in the West End by introducing a parking surcharge for diesel cars, increasing provision of electric vehicle charging facilities and improving pedestrian access.
New West End Company will work towards being the first Zero Emissions Transport Zone in London by 2025, alongside members and partners such as Transport for London and the City of Westminster to achieve this.
We will:
> Harness the knowledge and enforcement powers of > Engage with a broader group of strategic partners to Transport for London and Westminster City Council to achieve a faster transition to cleaner taxis and buses, achieve change investigate potential traffic flows to reduce congestion and pollutants, and collaborate with the health sector > Collaborate with members for projects such as the and schools to raise public awareness about reducing installation of electric vehicle charging points, for the exposure to emissions transition to zero-emission fleets that are more feasible and affordable for members across the district, and to > Support the delivery of The Crown Estate’s annual encourage members to sign up to our freight and waste programme of traffic-free events; and campaign for consolidation service to reduce the amount of delivery more regular and permanent changes to policy to and collection vehicles in our district improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion
34 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. THE PLAN - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
Campaigning for Social Sustainability
We will continue to campaign for changes to ensure that the West End’s physical environment contributes to a socially responsible experience for those who visit, work and live here. Enhancing public spaces and using them innovatively will help to ensure that all visitors enjoy the West End safely and reinforce the District’s international status.
We will:
> Work with our members and partners to ensure that > Be active members of the four Neighbourhood Forums the West End is Elizabeth Line Ready. Once fully that operate in our district and campaign for £10m local operational, we will welcome million more visits to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to be invested into the West End each year when fully open, and we will innovative measures to enhance green spaces and public work with Westminster City Council to enhance public realm schemes to improve air quality, sustainability and spaces, promote traffic-free areas at peak times and local community usage. the flexible use of space at less busy times, for loading, > Work with Westminster City Council and partners to servicing and deliveries. This will safeguard the user’s improve the public realm in East Mayfair and nurture experience at the heart of planning, design its reputation as the centre of the London art world. and management This strategy coincides with the coming of the Elizabeth > Be a key partner (fundraiser and delivery) for the Line, the recent re-opening of the new Royal Academy completion of the £150 million Oxford Street & building and entrance on Burlington Gardens, and the Regent Street District Transformation project led by regeneration of the galleries and associated uses on Westminster City Council from Tottenham Court Cork Street. Road to Marble Arch, addressing congestion, air > Support Grosvenor Estate, Pollen Estate and Astrea quality, management and economic & environmental Asset Management with the Mayfair Neighbourhood sustainability. We will work with The Crown Estate forum to innovate and enhance Mayfair’s green spaces advocating for greater pedestrian priority streets, and public realm schemes to improve air quality, traffic-free enhancements and cleaner air schemes for sustainability and local community usage. Regent Street, Oxford Circus and neighbouring areas
35 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR DELIVERY - 2021 - 2026
> Provide advocacy support for complementary schemes > Mental Health & Wellbeing convene our members for Savile Row, Cork Street, Burlington Gardens, on best practice and provide signposting and support Clifford Street, Old Burlington Street and Boyle Street. service guidance to our 150,000 employees, supporting Later phases will include Conduit Street, St George our members own initiatives. Street, Pollen Street, Maddox Street and Vigo Street to > Work with partners in the review of the Vagrancy deliver a complete transformation by 2025. Act and the district-wide approach to homelessness > Leverage our new West End ‘International Centre’ to reduce rough sleeping, through Westminster City status to campaign for greater management, resilience Council’s Hidden Network campaign and reporting & police & security resourcing, enhanced cleansing mechanisms such as Street Link regimes and more outreach workers
> Advocate for a change in the city promotions policy in line with our International Centre status, working with Westminster City Council for enhanced activations and visual displays in periods such as the summer art season and Christmas.
If ever there was a reason for BIDs in the area, its some of the challenges we’ve been through to deal with the pandemic. New West End Company has deliver a series of fantastic services and support to businesses in the area through its convening, its lobbying and its overall intelligence of the West End.
James Cooksey, Director of Central London, The Crown Estate Chair Property Steering Group
36 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR DELIVERY - 2021 - 2026
I have seen first-hand the influence and reach the New West End Company team has, advocating for West End businesses and achieving tangible results. As we plot our way through a new policy environment where sustainability and purposeful practices will be more important than ever; organisations like New West End Company will be business critical not a nice to have.
Hugh Milward, Director Corporate, Legal & External Affairs, Microsoft UK Chair Public Affairs Steering Group
As retailers, we achieve so much more with a united approach. New West End Company has been a crucial force in not only bringing us together, but also providing a transformative future vision for the Oxford Street District.
Katherine Russell, Head of Real Estate, Planning, Policy & Commercial at the John Lewis Partnership
London’s West End is a cleaner, safer and better place as a result of the work of New West End Company and the commitment to providing a sustainable vision and approach to the district. Their work during COVID both the lockdown and the reopening was truly remarkable, and we are very grateful. I wholeheartedly support them in their application and value the work we have achieved together so far.
Claude Abi-Gerges, Proprietor, McDonalds
37 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR DELIVERY - 2021 - 2026
Insights & innovation
To support the success of West End’s businesses, we will constantly evolve our approach to data-driven performance, capturing, publishing and utilising data to enhance the output of our work. New West End Economics, our dedicated unit, provides a one-stop data and insights resource that enables us to drive forward the performance of the West End and offers members unique insights to gain a real competitive edge.
Artjom Hatsaturjants, Head of Insights
38 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR VISION - A FUTURE THINKING DISTRICT
Our aim: We will deliver unrivalled West End insights to support members, enhance customers experiences, attract visitors and investment, showcase the impact of our members’ sustainability programmes, evidence our advocacy and measure our overall impact.
Our activity: PwC Insights programme as a core service to members (occupiers and property owners) supporting business growth (visitor profile, spend, forecasts), innovation programmes starting with digital infrastructure in the district including free customer Wi-Fi and repository of sustainable (environmental & social) benchmarks and best practice across our membership.
New West End Company Measures of Success:
> Satisfaction levels with our PwC Insights programme and ability to evolve services
> District wide WIFI and digitally connected infrastructure
> Baseline of members’ sustainable practices and evidence of improvements annually
39 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. New West End Economics
We will:
Deliver a range of bespoke data sets that will provide > On Street & Online Visitor Surveys: members with tailored and actionable insights through Our visitor survey captures how our customers view New West End Economics, including: our district, what drives them to visit more often and where improvements can be made. These will be > Weekly Visitor Bulletin: carried out every 6 months, with key shifts in The Weekly Visitor Bulletin will be available to all attitudes analysed to enable us to respond changing New West End Company members and associates on consumer trends a weekly basis. It provides rich insight into visitor and behaviour trends > Annual Member Surveys: Our member survey captures how our members view > Monthly Intelligence Update: our performance, which areas they consider the most The detailed Monthly Intelligence Update is restricted valuable and where improvements can be made. These to participating members (those who opt to share data will be carried out once a year, with key shifts in with the programme) only on a monthly basis. attitudes analysed to enable us to respond to member The report provides first rate analysis on sales and demands and priorities spend (split by street and merchant category), visitor demographics, dwell time and international travel. > State of West End: A basic version of the report, with top line data only, Draws upon key partners and wider industry data will be available to all other members that choose not to to complement our own data to provide a holistic opt into our programme view of the West End operations. This includes but is not limited to crime statistics, tax free shopping data, > The West End Market Spotlight: vacancy rates, hotel occupancy, travel data and wider The Spotlight Report is available on a bi-annual basis. Government statistics This is a comprehensive analysis of the previous six months bringing together the West End data in the context of the wider economic and political landscape. Registered members will also receive a customer segmentation and geographical network analysis on a bi-annual basis
40 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR VISION - A FUTURE THINKING DISTRICT
Benefits of renewing the BID
When it comes to enhancing your West End business performance, the benefits of renewing New West End Company are clear. Over the next five years, we will focus on customer service, campaigning and insights, to:
Customer Experience
> Deliver robust management plan for the arrival of > Deliver West End-wide free customer Wi-Fi the Elizabeth line – integrating physical and digital > Install new Christmas lighting scheme for Oxford Street customer services & Bond Street > Provide enhanced district wide security, cleaning, outreach and business resilience services
Campaigning
> Ensure a body continues to advocate for the £150m > Continue to be an influential business voice, with results Oxford Street District Transformation completion – protecting and enhancing your West End business with focus on quality design, economic benefits and and investments activation to world standards > Convene owners and occupiers in meeting our shared > Guarantee £40m business investment into our district goal to be a Net Carbon Neutral city by 2040
> Campaign with The Crown Estate for more traffic-free days on Regent Street
Insights
> Provide market leading customer insights, forward forecasts, investment demand and sustainability best practice across our membership
41 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OUR VISION - A FUTURE THINKING DISTRICT
The Pollen Estate fully supports the New West End Company’s renewal campaign, building on the success of 20 years of initiatives that have benefited retail businesses and property owners alike. With the challenges facing many retail and leisure businesses today, the West End needs New West End Company more than ever.
Julian Stocks, Chief Executive, The Pollen Estate
It is more important than ever to work together as one retail community to encourage visitors back into the vibrant and unique West End. We strive to achieve this by delivering extraordinary experiences and opportunities to create memories for customers within our stores. This is complemented by the work New West End Company undertakes on our streets.
Meave Wall, Executive Director of Stores, Selfridges
42 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. The Team: A clear direction in an ever changing world WHO THE TEAM - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
Governance
The Company: New West End Company is a company limited by guarantee. It has British BIDs and The BIDs Foundation recognition and compliance status.
Formal partnerships, and more specifically Business New West End Company is the BID proposer for both the Improvement Districts (BIDs) can provide effective Property and Occupier BIDs and is the legal entity that organisation models, which bring together the business assuming successful ballots, will run the activities of the community, both occupiers and owners, and the Occupier and Property BIDs for the designated BID area. public authorities, to work together for the benefit of The BID will be governed by New West End Company defined locations. and, in keeping with regulations, will hold separate budget accountability and reporting for both BIDs. BIDs are business-led and business-funded; formed to improve a defined commercial area. They are statutorily established once voted for by the majority of businesses or owners in an area and have a maximum term of five years before returning to their electorate to ask to be renewed. Over 300 BIDs currently operate across the UK.
Finance & Board Advisory Governance The Board Task & Finish Group Groups > Oxford Street District > Public Affairs New West End > Sustainability & Innovation Company
Priority Steering Occupier Steering Group Group
Infrastructure & Management Key Project Groups Groups (Bond Street & Mayfair, Oxford street, Regent Street, Hotels)
44 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. THE TEAM - A CLEAR DIRECTION IN AN EVER CHANGING WORLD
The Board
The New West End Company Board will meet at least three times a year and drive the longer-term ambitions of the company, as well as performing the corporate governance role setting the strategy, overseeing the budget and monitoring performance.
The high-level Board will consist of a maximum Non-Executive Directors will be appointed by the of 15 Non-Executive Directors including the Chair. Board and appointments will be subject to ratification. Those attending in an ‘observer’ capacity could include Governance & procedures are available at representatives from Westminster City Council, www.newwestend.com/governance Transport for London and the Mayor’s Office.
Sir Peter Rogers | Chairman James Raynor | Chief Executive New West End Company Grosvenor Britain & Ireland
James Cooksey | Chair Property Group NWEC David Silverman | Director Director Central London, The Crown Estate Derwent London PLC
Paul Jackson | Chair Hotel Group NWEC Toby Courtald | Chief Executive General Manager, Claridge’s Great Portland Estates PLC
Meave Wall | Executive Director of Stores Sacha Berendji | Chair Oxford St Group NWEC Selfidges & Co Director of Retail Marks and Spencer PLC
Katherine Russell | Head of Real Estate Manuel Criado-Romero | Chair Finance & John Lewis & Partners Governance Group NWEC Managing Director Pontegadea UK
Jayesh Patel | Portfolio Manager UK Norges Bank Investment Management Barratt West | Chair Occupier Group NWEC Vice President & Managing Director UK & Ireland, Tiffany & Co. Hugh Milward | Chair Public Affairs Group NWEC Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft
45 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Board Structure
The Strategic Board, which will continue to provide > Hotel – at least 1 member leadership and guidance, will consist of a minimum of > The Chairs of Finance & Governance, Occupier, nine members, elected from their constituency based Property & Public Affairs Steering Groups upon the following criteria: > The Chair of the Strategic Board will be appointed > Retailers – at least 4 members by the Strategic Board (the main Company Board). (Can be owner/occupier businesses) The Chair does not have to be either a BID paying > Property Owners – at least 4 members retailer, hotelier of property owner
Occupier & Property Steering Groups
Management Groups
The Management Groups will maintain an important The Management Groups will help direct priorities and role within the delivery of New West End Company. expenditure of work programmes applicable to their In addition to being the key point of contact with streets/hotel sector. The Chairs of the Management individual businesses within the District to engage Groups will maintain a seat of the Board’s Finance & with New West End Company collectively. Governance Group.
Lord Bruce Dundas Gareth Eighteen Buccellati Schuh Chair of Bond Street & Mayfair Chair of Oxford Street
Ian Grout Paul Jackson Hackett Claridge’s Chair of Regent Street Chair of Hotel Management
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The Executive Team
The Occupier and Property BIDs will be managed by the existing New West End Company team, with support of specialist advisors.
Future delivery may require additional executive and specialist resources.
Finance & The Board Governance Group
Management Groups Occupier Priority Steering Group (Bond Street & Mayfair, Oxford Steering Group street, Regent Street, Hotels)
New West End Company
Sustainable Place Campaigning Insight & Finance & District & Marketing & Management & & Corporate Members Reporting Strategic Partnerships Infrastructure Affairs Projects
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District Map
The 82 Streets in the BID area, acknowledged in the London & Westminster City Plan as the West End’s International Centre, are anchored by Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street and include the hinterland areas of East Mayfair, North Mayfair and North Oxford Street.
All of the streets shaded in this map will be included, in New West End Company is the proposer of the Renewal full or in part, in the New West End Company Occupier & and Alteration Ballot (extension around Berkeley Square). Property BID 2021 – 2026. Following a comprehensive business engagement programme New West End Company proposes to extend A full list of street names and numbers is available at its current boundaries to those outlined below. www.newwestend.com/renew It is intended the new business mandate will bring benefits to the wider group of organisations in the West End and reflect the larger retail and leisure footprint that now exists. No other alterations to the BID arrangements are being proposed. The new mandate will commence from 1 April 2021 to coincide with the renewal of the BID. BID Area Map & Proposed Extended Area
Bond Street & Mayfair District Oxford Street District Regent Street District Proposed Extended Area 2021 - 2026
2212_v3
48 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Operations and Finance: Delivering an international district HOW OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
BID Levy Rules
The Business Improvement District (BID) process is governed by Government legislation and 2004 regulations. As such, once a majority vote has been achieved in both individual properties and Rateable Value for both the Occupier and Property BID proposals, the BID levy becomes mandatory on all eligible occupiers and property owners.
Occupier BID Levy Rules
> The BID term will be five years from 1 April 2021 to 31 > New hereditaments will be charged based on the March 2026; rateable value at the point of occupation;
> The BID levy will be applied to rated properties in the > Where the rateable value for an individual BID with a rateable value of £400,000 or more; hereditament changes and results in a lower BID levy, then this comes into effect only from the start of the > The BID levy will be fixed at 0.65% of rateable value financial year in which the change is made and no using the 2017 rating list as at 1 April 2021; refunds will be made for previous years. This will be > Owner/Occupiers: If the relevant long lease or freehold known as the closed year rule. property owner is part of the same group as the > There will be no VAT charged on the BID levy; occupier BID levy payer for any rateable hereditament over £400,000 then the Occupier / Property Owner BID > The BID levy rules cannot be altered without an levy shall be fixed at 0.325% of RV using the 2017 rating alteration ballot; list as at 1 April 2021 for that relevant interest; > No refunds will be granted on BID levy paid; > The levy will assume an annual growth rate for > The BID levy is to be paid in full within 14 days of inflation of 3% to be applied 1 April each year; receipt of invoice. > The BID levy will only apply to retail, food and beverage *Further details of the BID rules can be found in the and leisure hereditaments (including hotels) Operating Agreement input web address …….. > The liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the eligible rate payer;
50 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
Property Owner BID Levy Rules
Property Definition - The eligible owner shall be: > The liability for the daily BID levy will fall on the The first lessee above the rateable occupier where the eligible property owner; current lease is granted for a term of more than 35 years, > New hereditaments will be charged based on the or in the absence of a relevant first lessee, the freeholder. rateable value at the point of occupation; > The BID term will be five years from 1 April 2021 to 31 > Where the rateable value for an individual March 2026. In the event of the Occupier BID ceasing to hereditament changes and results in a lower BID levy, exist, the Property Owner BID cannot seek renewal at then this comes into effect only from the start of the the end of its present 5-year mandate; financial year in which the change is made and no > The BID levy will be applied to rated properties in the refunds will be made for previous years. This will be BID with a rateable value of £400,000 or more; known as the closed year rule.
> The BID levy will be fixed at 0.65% of rateable value > There will be no VAT charged on the BID levy; using the 2017 rating list as at 1 April 2021; > The BID levy rules cannot be altered without an > Owner/Occupiers: If the relevant long lease or freehold alteration ballot; property owner is part of the same group as the > No refunds will be granted on the BID levy paid; occupier BID levy payer for any rateable hereditament over £400,000 then the Occupier / Property Owner BID > The BID levy is to be paid in full within 14 days of levy shall be fixed at 0.325% of RV using the 2017 rating receipt of invoice. list as at 1 April 2021 for that relevant interest; *Further details of the BID rules can be found in the > The levy will assume an annual growth rate for Operating Agreement https://www.newwestend.com/ inflation of 3% to be applied 1 April each year; renew/
> The BID levy will only apply to retail, Whilst not a formal BID rule the eligible Property Owner food and beverage and leisure hereditaments BID levy payer should not pass the levy onto the eligible (including hotels and theatres) Occupier BID levy payer.
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Occupier & Property BID Budget
Income & Expenditure 2021/22 Income generated from the BID levy is ring-fenced to be invested in the BID area, protecting and enhancing the commercial well-being of our businesses through a programme of projects and services that holistically manage, promote and shape our area in line with the five year business plan. The following allocation has been approved by the Strategic Board in consultation with members through the development of this business proposal.
52 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
% Allocation Total Occupier Total Property Total
Total Income 4,100 4,100 8,200
Customer experience
Security & Resilience (21%) 1,717 0 1,717
Management & Maintenance (15%) 585 685 1,271
Marketing & Activation (6%) 484 0 484
Public Realm & Infrastructure (16%) 0 1,281 1,281
Insights & Innovation
New West End Economics (11%) 363 543 907
Campaigning
Advocacy (8%) 105 565 670
Sustainable District (2%) 0 179 179
Company Management
Provision for Bad Debt (10%) 410 410 820
BID Levy Collection (1%) 25 25 50
Management Staff Overheads (10%) 410 410 820
NB: Public realm and infrastructure includes Christmas lights for Bond Street & Oxford Street - £3.5m across 5 years (8.5%)
Notes:
Budget figures are indicative based on the anticipated levy Our management and overhead is maintained income using 2017 Rateable Values. Assumed 3% annual beneath the industry benchmark of 20%, currently inflationary increase and 100% levy collection rate. reflecting 10% of expenditure. We seek to leverage Levy income may fluctuate in relation to occupancy and is voluntary income, which will help enable more of subject to the market at the time of the ratings assessment. our members’ contributions to be allocated to work programmes, which directly benefit business and the Allocations reflect current priorities; these may change local area in general. causing variances and re-allocations across the five-year term. Any material variations of the budget will be approved by the Board. Contingency based upon 10% of BID Levy.
53 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
New West End Company - 5 Year Income Projection
2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 (£k) (£k) (£k) (£k) (£k)
BID Levy 8,000 8,240 8,487 8,742 9,004
Non-BID Levy 200 200 200 200 200
TOTAL 8,200 8,440 8,687 8,942 9,204
The BID Levy increases by 3% for inflation year-on-year. All other income remains flat.
The Board have agreed percentage allocations of budget through the five-year plan to allow agility on resources and programmes based on trading conditions and business priorities. As part of our COVID recovery, there may be requirement for a budget provision for higher bad debt in the first few years of the new BID term. This amount will need approval by the Board on an annual basis.
> Customer Experience 40% - 60% > Campaigning 10% - 15% > Insights & Innovation 10% - 15% > Company Management 10% > Provision for Bad Debt 10%
Note:
Should collection rates exceed 90% this additional income will be ring-fenced towards Oxford Street District project and subject to Board approval through the annual business planning process.
Empty Properties
Occupier BID: For empty properties the liability for the occupier BID levy will fall upon the liable Property Owner.
Property BID: The liable property owner will be liable for the occupier BID levy if the property is empty and in rating.
54 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
Plans to Leverage Additional Non-BID Levy Funding
New West End Company will seek to grow its number of voluntary members and in particular leverage its activity towards the delivery of additional funding to support ongoing work programmes:
We will:
> Provide additional services over and above that > The additionality will be analysed and delivered by the BID levy in partnership with reported annually participating property owners Target - £200k per annum (£1m Five Years) > Explore and grow office occupier members and in doing so identify the appetite and service provision required for embracing the office sector as formal members of the Business Improvement District.
55 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. OPERATIONS AND FINANCE - DELIVERING AN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
Operating Agreement
Through the Operating Agreement with Westminster City Council, the following process will be put in place to monitor the collection of the BID levy over the duration of the five-year tenure.
Within one month of the Ballot result, New West End Company and Westminster City Council will set up a Monitoring Group. There will be at least two meetings of the Group each financial year throughout the BID term.
At each meeting the monitoring group will: Every month, Westminster City Council
> Review the effectiveness of collection and enforcement will provide New West End Company with of the BID levy the following information:
> If required, assess the information provided by > The amount of the BID levy for each BID levy payer New West End Company and make recommendations > The Amount of the BID levy collection for each and adjustments levy payer
> Details of those who have not paid
> Detail of reminder notices issued
> Detail of liability order applied for
> Details of any agreements which is made to extend the payment agreement
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Baseline Agreement with Westminster City Council
Cleaning Services
> More effective waste collection, including times > Improved cleaning schedules for waste bins and collection points
> More appropriate street sweeping beats and allocated streets
Highway Services
> Improved repair times > Greater advance notice of works
> Guaranteed standards of performance for utility companies
Enforcement
> Option of delegation of powers
To view the operating and baseline agreements go to www.newwestend.com/renew
57 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. VOTE Using Your Vote
The Renewed Occupier & Property BIDs will be established if a number of qualifying hereditaments of occupiers and property owners in a geographical given area, who are legible to vote on the Proposal, vote in its favour.
The ballot process is governed by Government legislation All eligible occupiers and owners will be entitled to one and regulations. As such, once a majority vote has been voter per hereditament. Some occupiers and owners achieved in both value and the number of votes cast in with more the one hereditament within the area will, the renewal ballot, the BID levy becomes mandatory on therefore, be entitled to more than one vote. all eligible occupiers (retail, hotel & leisure) and property A full list of those eligible to vote is available at owners in the defined district. www.newwestend.com/renew Please email [email protected] if you wish to schedule a virtual meeting to discuss our future business proposal and renewal mandate process in more detail.
The voting procedure
Occupiers and owners will have the opportunity to vote on the Business Proposal from 18 February 2021 (Occupier) and 19 February (Property). To ensure transparency and due diligence, the BID ballot will be administered by the City of Westminster Returning Officer and their Electoral Services staff. It will be organised in line with the rules set out in the Occupier BID Regulations (2004) and Property Owner BID regulations (2014) approved by Parliament.
59 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. > Your ballot paper will reach you by post on or before 19 February 2021.
> You will need to cast and return your postal vote by 5pm on 17 March 2021 (Occupier) and 5pm on 18 March 2021 (Property).
> The results will be announced on 19 March 2021 (Both Occupier & Property).
> On a successful ballot, both BIDs will become operational on 1 April 2021.
60 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Acknowledgements
New West End Company would like to acknowledge the support and funding received from our Corporate & Associate Members.
The Board and executive have been supported throughout We are thankful to West End businesses who have the development of this proposal by the Councillors and provided endorsements and expert assistance in officers of Westminster City Council and our thanks developing this business proposal supported by our for their sound advice and guidance received. The four advisors at Re_set, Arup and Good Business. Neighbourhood Forums we sit on have also contributed to our proposals for which we are grateful.
Corporate & Associate Members
Community
Public Sector & Promotion
Neighbourhood Forums
61 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. BETTER TOGETHER, FOR GOOD.
62 / Business Proposal 2021 – 2026: Better Together, For Good. Information correct at time of publication; January 2021